Mounting assembly for a high voltage gaseous discharge tube



May 13, 1969 s, E TAYLOR ET AL 3,444,364

MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE GASEOUS DISCHARGE TUBE Filed Dec. 1, 1966 INVENTORS.

Q 4 i/brney.

United States Patent 3,444,364 MOUNTING ASSEMBLY FOR A HIGH VOLTAGE GASEOUS DISCHARGE TUBE Stephen E. Taylor, Burbank, and Gerald W. Sylvester,

Glendora, Calif., assignors to Rite Autotronics Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Dec. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 598,429 Int. Cl. F211 /00 US. Cl. 24011.4 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mounting structure for a pulse triggered gaseous discharge tube, which can be connected directly to a spark plug. A U-shaped tube is mounted in a hollow body with its U-shaped portion extending through a diametric slot in one end wall. A flexible conductor having an end portion encircling the bridging portion of the tube and having a coiled portion forming a compression spring extends through the slot into the interior of the hollow body. The other end wall of the hollow body has plug connectors adapted to enter sockets on a support which has a male connector adapted to enter the body and contact the compression spring portion of the triggering electrode, a high voltage cable connector being connected with the male connector.

The present invention relates generally to means for mounting gaseous discharge tubes, and is more particularly concerned with an improved combination plug-socket type mounting device for high voltage pulse triggered light sources.

Heretofore, high voltage pulse triggered light sources, such as the xenon tubes utilized in automobile ignition timing devices, have for the most part been fixedly mounted in a metal casing or on a panel by more or less make-shift-means in which it was diflicult to provide suitable insulation to prevent subsequent arcing to ground. Such arrangements also make it very inconvenient, if not impossible, to replace the tubes in the field, and usually it was necessary to return the unit for factory replacement of the light source tubes.

With the foregoing inherent disadvantages in mind, it is one object of the present invention to provide an im-- proved plug-socket type of mounting for high voltage pulse triggered light sources, which will permit tube changes and replacements to be quickly and easily made.

A further object is to provide a mounting of the above character which can be connected directly to a spark plug in the case of timing devices, and wherein the possibility of high voltage arcing to ground will be minimized and/or substantially eliminated.

Another object is to provide an improved base struc ture for a high voltage pulse triggered gaseous discharge tube, which embodies unique connections for the terminal and triggering electrodes of the tube.

Still another object is to provide in a high voltage pulse triggered gaseous discharge tube assembly, a base structure which incorporates a light reflecting surface.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a complete assembly of an ignition timing light arrangement embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of one part of the two-part mountin g means of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the other part of the twopart mounting means, including a longitudinal section to show the relationship of the tube and connected parts; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3, certain of the parts being shown in full lines.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the present invention will be described in connection with an ignition timing device arrangement, although the invention is not to be limited to this particular use, since the invention is susceptible of general application.

As generally shown, the complete assembly in FIG. 1 includes a two-part mounting means as generally indicated at 10 consisting of a socket part A which is affixed to a support 11 which may be a panel or a cabinet wall or the like. A cooperatively connectible and disconnectible base part B supports a high voltage pulse triggered light source such as a xenon tube 12 which is arranged to be triggered through a triggering connection which includes a high tension cable 13, this cable having one end associated with the socket part A and its other end connected with an alligator clip 14 by means of which the cable may be con nected to a source of a triggering voltage such as the first spark plug of the engine which is to be timed. An insulating boot 15 is slidable on the cable into a position for insulating the clip.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the socket part A comprises a cylindrical body 16 of insulating material which is formed with a peripheral groove '17 that is bounded on one side by a peripheral flange 18 of slightly less diameter than a flange 19 on the opposite side of the groove. With this conventional construction, the socket part can be in-, serted end-wise into a round opening in a panel member or a thin wall, as shown in FIG. 1, and retained in mounted position by means of a spring washer 20.

The body is provided with the usual circumferentially spaced sockets each of which is of conventional construction with an axially extending passage which terminates in an entrance opening 21 in the flange 19. Spaced contact members 22-22 are positioned on opposite sides of the passage, these contact members being electrically connected with a terminal connector 23 extending from the flange 18. The sockets as thus formed provide female connection assemblies which are adapted to receive in each case a male plug member therein.

Centrally of the body 16, there is mounted on elongate tubular member 24 of suitable insulating material, this member projecting outwardly from the flange 19 on the opposite side of the body from the terminal connectors 23. A central passage (not shown) in the body 16 receives therethrough an end of the high tension cable 13, this cable also extending into the tubular member 24 and having its central conductor connected with a contact washer 25 as by soldering as indicated at 26. The high tension cable is thus anchored and electrically connected to a male terminal which is adapted to establish a triggering circuit with the xenon tube, as will hereinafter be further described, when the socket part A and base part B are interconnected in the manner shown in FIG. 1.

The base part B will now be described. This part, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a cup-shaped body 27 formed of a suitable insulating material to provide an end wall 28 at the bottom of the cup and a cylindrical integrally formed wall 29 which extends outwardly therefrom and terminates in a brim 30 which defines an open end of the cup-shaped body. This end of the body has an end wall formed by a cap member 31 having an inner peripheral flange 32 adapted to fit within the brim of the body.

As shown in FIG. 3, the xenon tube 12 is U-shaped with parallel spaced legs 33a and 33b which are interconnected at one set of their corresponding ends by means of a bridging portion 34. This tube is supported in the cap member 31 with its legs extending through 2. diametric slot 35 and in which the tube is so positioned that the bridging portion 34 will project outwardly of the end wall formed by the cap member 31 while the ends of the legs 33a and 33b will be positioned within the interior of the body. With the bridging portion 34 of the tube extending outwardly of the cap, the cap may be constructed of a suitable material or its outer surface 36 covered with a material so as to form a reflecting surface for the light flashes when the xenon tube is triggered.

The end wall 28 is provided with a plurality of plug connectors, as generally indicated at 37. These connectors are of conventional construction and are anchored at their inner ends in the end wall 28, the outer ends of the connectors being rounded and adapted to mate with the female socket contacts of the socket part A, when the socket part A and base part B are interconnected. Two of the plug connectors, for example connectors 37a and 37b are connected by conductors 38a and 38b respectively with terminal electrodes 39a and 39b of the tube. A surge resistor 40 is also mounted within the body member 27, this resistor having one terminal connection with the plug connector 37b, and its other terminal connection with a third plug connector 370.

A high voltage contact for establishing a triggering circuit for the tube is provided in the form of a compression coiled spring 41 which is positioned centrally of the cup-shaped 'body member 27 between the legs 33a and 33b, one end of this spring extending to the interior of the body through the slot 35, while the other end extends beyond the cap member 31 where several turns are taken around the bridging portion 34 so as to form a trigger electrode 42. For shielding the portion of the coiled spring outwardly of the cap member 31 on each side of the slot 35, a pair of confronting arcuate side wings 43a and 43b are provided, these wings projecting from the end wall of the cap on opposite sides of the slot. The innermost end of the coiled spring 41 is positioned on the central axis of the body 27 in alignment with a central opening 44 in the end wall 28, this opening being adapted to receive endwise therethrough the tubular member 24 of the socket part A, when the socket part A and base part B are interconnected into assembled relation. When so assembled, the outermost end of the tubular member 24 with the contact washer 2S thereon will be positioned and stabilized between the side wings 43a and 43b, with the washer 25 and the adjacent end of the spring 41 being engaged so as to form a triggering circuit connection between the high tension cable 13 and the trigger electrode 42.

With the mounting arrangement of the present invention, it is a simple operation to replace a defective tube or interchange tubes simply by disconnecting the base part B from the socket part A. This operation is effective to disconnect the terminal electrode connections of the tube as well as the high voltage triggering circuit, and in no way disturbs the permanent mounting for the high tension cable 13 and its anchored position as determined by the socket part A. Subsequent are over is thus prevented.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, hence, we do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A mounting assembly for a high voltage gaseous discharge tube, comprising:

(a) a hollow body having end walls at its opposite ends;

(b) a U-shaped gaseous discharge tube supported by said body with its bridging portion positioned out- 4 wardly of one of said end walls and with its leg portions extending therethrough to the body interior, each of said leg portions having an end terminal connection;

(c) plug connectors supported in the other of said end walls and having ends extending outwardly therebeyond, each of said terminal connections being electrically connected to one of said plug connectors;

(d) means adapted to be secured to a support, said means including sockets for respectively receiving said plug connectors, and a male connector adapted to enter said body when the plug connectors are positioned in said sockets; and

(e) a triggering electrode on said tube having electrical connection with said male connector.

2. A mounting assembly according to claim 1, including a high voltage cable connected with said male connector. 3. A mounting assembly according to claim 1, wherein said male connector enters said body through an opening in the other of said end walls, and has its outer end positioned in an opening in said one of said end walls.

4. A two-part mounting means for a high voltage gaseons discharge tube, comprising:

(a) a first part including: means for anchoring said part to a panel structure, a projecting male contact member, and a plurality of socket connectors; and

(b) a second part releasably connectible into assembled relation with said first part, including: a gaseous discharge tube having a pair of terminal electrodes and a triggering electrode, and plug connectors respectively connected with said terminal electrodes, said plug connectors being adapted to respectively enter the socket connectors, and the male contact member being adapted to make electrical contact with said triggering electrode, when said first part and said second part are interconnected into assembled relation.

5. A mounting assembly for a high voltage gaseous discharge tube, comprising:

(a) a hollow body having end walls at its opposite ends, one of said walls having a diametric slot;

(b) a U-shaped gaseous discharge tube supported by said body with its bridging portion positioned outwardly of said one of said end walls and with its leg portions extending through said slot to the body interior, each of said leg portions having an end terminal connection;

(0) a flexible conductor having an end portion encircling the bridging portion of said tube to provide a high voltage triggering electrode, said conductor having a coiled portion forming a compression spring extending through said slot between the leg portions of said tube and having an inner free end positioned within the hollow body; and

(d) plug connectors supported in the other of said end walls and having ends extending outwardly therebeyond, each of said terminal connections being electrically connected to one of said plug connectors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,214 4/1936 Eaton 240-114 2,270,492 1/ 1942 Badalewski 2401 1.4 2,492,619 12/ 1949 Casellini et al. 24011.4 2,637,803 5/ 1953 Reifenberg 240-114 2,644,131 6/1953 Walraven et a1. 240ll.4 XR 2,731,577 1/1956 Floyd 240-11.4 XR 2,825,795 3/ 1958 Henninger 240-114 XR NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

R. M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 339-126 

